Understanding Fitness Instructor Professional Liability Insurance

During the interview below, my guest Coleen Kelly makes a good point about how studio owners should be asking to be listed as an “additionally insured” on your instructor’s professional liability policies.

Indoor Cycling is experiencing a boom, with new bouquet studios popping up pretty much everywhere. This is great because all these new studios = more places for us to teach. But there’s a small catch. Many of these new studios hire Fitness Instructors as independent contractors, not as true employees, but it shouldn’t scare you away from teaching there.

There are multiple advantages for teaching as a self-employed contractor (you may be able to expense your fitness clothes and mileage) and a few disadvantages. The biggest being there’s a very good chance the studio’s general liability insurance won’t protect you if someone gets hurt and sues you personally for millions of dollars 🙁

Professional Liability Insurance is designed to protect Instructors (you) and your family’s financial assets, in the event that you’re sued by a client. Many fitness businesses require contractors to have their own policy.